The Russellville Country Club will host the 2013 Gardner-Goodwin 4-Ball tournament on July 12-14 — one of the oldest and largest annual tournaments held at the site.

“The Russellville Country Club was established in 1926, and we’ve been having the 4-ball tournament for almost as many years,” Russellville Country Club president Bryan Fisher said. “It’s really important to us. It brings people here from all over the state, and we’ve been fortunate to have great crowds.”

The tournament, which is named after Dr. Ellis Gardner and Joe Goodwin, is made up of two-man teams, where each person plays their own ball and you take the best score from each hole.

Neal Westbrook, who runs the tournament, said the first day is played to decide which division each team will play in. The second day is played for prizes.

“There will be winners in each division and they will be given the option of a cash payout or we will give them a gift certificate to golf stores,” Westbrook said. “We give them the option because in Arkansas State Golf (ASG) and United States Golf (USG), you’re not allowed to play in the amateur tournaments if you’re making money off of golf. Some people want to protect their amateur status. In the amateur brackets, it’s supposed to be about sportsmanship and love of the game. First place in each flight will be awarded approximately $700 per team.”

The men from whom the tournament takes its name gave much to the country club during their lifetimes. Both Fisher and Westbrook said the club was extremely proud to be able to honor them in this way.

“They were both businessmen and very dedicated individuals who put a lot of work into the club,” Westbrook said. “They put a lot of money and insight and they made it into the long-standing entity that it is today. It’s been around since 1926, and a lot of that is because of these two individuals.”

Doug Griffen, who plays in the tournament every year and is the grandson of Joe Goodwin, remembers his grandfather fondly and remembers how important the country club was to him.

“He was a big part of my life,” Griffen said. “I actually named my first child Joe after him. He was just loved by everybody out there and he did lots for the club. He was just a kind, sweet man. He and Dr. Gardner were big buddies. He was one of my grandfather’s best friends.”

The tournament is set to tee off at noon on Friday, with happy hour beginning at 6:30 p.m. and entertainment at 7. On Saturday and Sunday, activities begin at 8 a.m. and continue until 8 p.m.

The tournament costs $280 per team. The entry deadline is noon Thursday. More information is available at www.golfrcc.com or www.facebook.com/rcc.mga.